It was a mixed bag for miners on the benchmark index today, with commodities firms book-ending the Footsie. At the top of the table, rising gold prices benefited precious metal miners, with African-focused Randgold Resources adding 44p to 4531p.

After Fresnillo fell almost 13% yesterday, investors also saw value in the Mexican precious metals miner. The firm, which was hit by reports of a proposed 7.5% tax on mining profits in Mexico, bounced back 6p to 1051p.

But it was a different story for commodities giant Glencore Xstrata, which trailed the top-flight index after a downgrade from UBS. Scribblers at the bank said: “While we are still attracted to Glencore Xstrata’s refreshing strategy and improving free cash flow, we expect its valuation to cap performance until the outlook improves for copper/coal prices.” Glencore lost 8.9p to 333p.

Vedanta Resources, which yesterday announced that former Rio Tinto chief Tom Albanese was coming aboard, also tumbled down 38p to 1145p. Engineering firm Smiths Group was riding high after an upbeat note from Jefferies ahead of tomorrow’s full year results.

Sandy Morris at the broker reckons first-half revenue growth is unlikely to have been sustained in the second half and warns there are still problems at the detection division.But, says Morris: “We believe that the underlying progress will be satisfactory and will stand comparison with many peers.” Smiths added 17p to 1390p.

After a double dose of good news from Syria and Larry Summers yesterday, the markets were in a more subdued mood today, with expectations that the US Federal Reserve will announce a tapering of its market stimulus tomorrow. The FTSE 100 index fell 20.91 points to 6601.95.

Cautious investors took to safe-bet utilities stocks. Severn Trent gushed up 53p to 1810.5p while United Utilities bounced 15p to 702.75p.

London Fashion Week is in full swing and yesterday fashion powerhouse Burberry debuted its spring collection, watched by celebs including Harry Styles, pictured, and Alexa Chung. It today added 14p to 1615.5p.

Liberum thinks it’s time to tune into ITV. The broker says retransmission of shows on other channels or in other countries is the next “big opportunity” and says ITV is poised to take advantage, given its record with shows such as Downton Abbey and Broadchurch. ITV added 0.3p to 182.35p.

PORTFOLIO

BUY

EKF Diagnostics Holdings

Snap up shares in EKF Diagnostics, Canaccord Genuity suggests. The broker thinks the healthcare testing group has moved form an “acquisition-focused vehicle” to a broad-based diagnostics business with a “portfolio of rapidly growing products”. So Canaccord rates it a buy with a 42p price target for shares that are around 28p.

SELL

Reckitt Benckiser

Flog shares in Reckitt Benckiser, Liberum Capital advises. The broker thinks its “below average exposure to emerging markets” and the fact it is “undergoing a shift in strategy” and its healthcare unit is volatile are reasons to sell. Liberum sets it a 3700p price target for shares that are around 4585p.

HOLD

Paragon

Hang on to shares in Paragon, Peel Hunt recommends. The broker reckons its £273 million securitisation, launched last week, “reiterates the continued momentum in the underlying business”. But for now Peel rates it just a hold with a 339p price target for shares that are around 333p.